Impression 5tir's With Subwoofer

C

charlo

Enthusiast
I have the Yamaha CX-800 / MX-800U and plan to get the Impression E5Ti These are to be used for music. Do you think I will get enough bass in a room
30 feet by 14 feet or do need a subwoofer. I am using the Bose AM5 acouistimass currently. Anyone knows if the immpression bass is deeper than the bose. I am also thinking about pairing the E5Ti with the Impression subwoofer ES10i. How is the bass, do you get a tight or loose bass.
 
Soundman

Soundman

Audioholic Field Marshall
I have the Yamaha CX-800 / MX-800U and plan to get the Impression E5Ti These are to be used for music. Do you think I will get enough bass in a room
30 feet by 14 feet or do need a subwoofer. I am using the Bose AM5 acouistimass currently. Anyone knows if the immpression bass is deeper than the bose. I am also thinking about pairing the E5Ti with the Impression subwoofer ES10i. How is the bass, do you get a tight or loose bass.
I can't say too much here b/c I have not heard the E5Ti's, but if they do not outperform your Acoustimass system, it would be the biggest embarrassment that RBH/EMP could have ever dreamed of. From all accounts, they should sound wonderful, especially comared to the Bose system. Frankly, the Acoustimass system is a piece of crap. I don't mean to be a Bose hater, but it's hard not to be since the system is made so cheaply. The built quality of the 2 is night and day. Bose does not even make a real subwoofer. That's why they call it a bass module. Anyway, whether or not you get a subwoofer, I think it will still sound significantly better. :)
 
C

charlo

Enthusiast
I can't say too much here b/c I have not heard the E5Ti's, but if they do not outperform your Acoustimass system, it would be the biggest embarrassment that RBH/EMP could have ever dreamed of. From all accounts, they should sound wonderful, especially comared to the Bose system. Frankly, the Acoustimass system is a piece of crap. I don't mean to be a Bose hater, but it's hard not to be since the system is made so cheaply. The built quality of the 2 is night and day. Bose does not even make a real subwoofer. That's why they call it a bass module. Anyway, whether or not you get a subwoofer, I think it will still sound significantly better. :)
Thanks for the advice, I had other high end speakers before but I just did not have the amp to push them. It is very costly to get in good equipment in the country where I live ( high custom duties ) anyway I ended up with the AM5. I never had cause to use a subwoofer that's why I wanted someone's opinion on whether it's necessary to use a sub with the Impression to achieve a decent sound
 
Soundman

Soundman

Audioholic Field Marshall
Thanks for the advice, I had other high end speakers before but I just did not have the amp to push them. It is very costly to get in good equipment in the country where I live ( high custom duties ) anyway I ended up with the AM5. I never had cause to use a subwoofer that's why I wanted someone's opinion on whether it's necessary to use a sub with the Impression to achieve a decent sound
I believe it is rated down to 40hz, which may be all right for music. What kind of music do you listen to? My initial reaction is that it would be best to pair it with a sub for best results. Maybe someone will chime in that's actually heard them. Also, you mentioned that it is hard to get good equipment where you are. Where are you located? Maybe someone here knows of some options for you?
 
S

shadyJ

Speaker of the House
Staff member
MY opinion is, get a better subwoofer than the 5T. Yes, the acoustimass is garbage. It can't even be called a subwoofer, I don't believe Bose ever claimed it was a true subwoofer, which is why they always called it a "bass module", maybe they want to avoid legal trouble from false advertising.

But the 5T is pretty weak also, at least on paper. It's extension only goes to 35 hertz. It has a 10" driver powered by a 100 watt amp. Even at its $300 introductory price, it is still no bargain. There are a lot better $300 subs out there, I would look at the BIC Acoustech PL-200, or the BIC Acoustech H100, or the BIC America VK12, BIC seems to have the best entry level subs. Also the Hsu Research STF1 is on sale right now for $250, and while it doesn't go that deep, there is no tighter subwoofer in it's price class. Something else to look at that has extension and tightness is the STF2. I think any of these subs will be far superior to the EMP 5t sub.

One other thing, you may not think you had cause to get a sub before, but how do you know what you were missing if you weren't hearing it? Even older recordings may surprise you.
 
gene

gene

Audioholics Master Chief
Administrator
But the 5T is pretty weak also, at least on paper. It's extension only goes to 35 hertz. It has a 10" driver powered by a 100 watt amp. Even at its $300 introductory price, it is still no bargain. There are a lot better $300 subs out there, I would look at the BIC Acoustech PL-200, or the BIC Acoustech H100, or the BIC America VK12, BIC seems to have the best entry level subs. Also the Hsu Research STF1 is on sale right now for $250, and while it doesn't go that deep, there is no tighter subwoofer in it's price class. Something else to look at that has extension and tightness is the STF2. I think any of these subs will be far superior to the EMP 5t sub.
I think its important to point out that the EMP 100watt sub amp rating is a continuous power rating. Most sub companies only give you dynamic power ratings, especially at this price. I've seen BASH amps rated at 250watts before that on the bench delivered less than half that power without clipping.

As for the 30Hz extension, again thats a -3dB point. Many sub companies rate at -10dB or don't tell you at all the real specification.

We will request a review sample next month and bench test the sub to get the real scoop but for $300 I'd say it appears to be quite a good value and certainly a few levels up from a Bose Acousticmass product.
 
S

shadyJ

Speaker of the House
Staff member
Yeah, I figured it was a RMS rating, however, even then one couldn't accuse it of being over-powered. Despite all that it still may sound fine. I would still rather go with one of the BICs I listed or a entry level Hsu or Elemental Design sub. For the introductory price, the 5T sub isn't the worst you can do (Bose), but at its regular price of 550, it looks pretty sorry, especially when you compare it to what you can buy from ED, HSU, Outlaw, or SVS for 550.

But the rest of the Impression speakers look very good, especially at their introductory price. I am tempted to buy some of those towers, even though I don't even have a place for them. I am looking forward to your guys review on them.
 
newsletter

  • RBHsound.com
  • BlueJeansCable.com
  • SVS Sound Subwoofers
  • Experience the Martin Logan Montis
Top